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QLDChemistryQuick questions

Unit 1: Chemical fundamentals (structure, properties and reactions)

Quick questions on Intermolecular forces and properties of covalent molecular substances (QCE Chemistry Unit 1)

11short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.

What is three types of intermolecular force?
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Dispersion forces (also called London forces or instantaneous dipole-induced dipole forces). Present between all molecules, polar or non-polar. Caused by random fluctuations in electron density that create an instantaneous dipole; this induces a dipole in a neighbouring molecule; the two attract. Always present, but they are the only intermolecular force in non-polar substances.
What are dispersion forces?
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Present between all molecules, polar or non-polar. Caused by random fluctuations in electron density that create an instantaneous dipole; this induces a dipole in a neighbouring molecule; the two attract. Always present, but they are the only intermolecular force in non-polar substances.
What are dipole-dipole attractions?
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Present in polar molecules. The delta+ end of one molecule attracts the delta- end of a neighbouring molecule. Stronger than dispersion forces of comparable mass, but typically weaker than hydrogen bonding.
What is hydrogen bonding?
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A special, particularly strong dipole-dipole attraction that occurs when H is bonded directly to N, O or F (the three small, highly electronegative atoms). The H is so strongly delta+ that it attracts a lone pair on N, O or F of a neighbouring molecule. Roughly 5 to 10 times stronger than ordinary dipole-dipole attraction.
What is solubility?
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"Like dissolves like". Polar solvents (water, ethanol) dissolve polar and ionic solutes; non-polar solvents (hexane, oil) dissolve non-polar solutes. The principle is that the solute-solvent interactions must be of comparable strength to the solute-solute and solvent-solvent interactions.
What is viscosity?
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Higher with stronger intermolecular forces (molecules resist sliding past each other). Glycerol (three O-H groups, extensive hydrogen bonding) is much more viscous than water; water is much more viscous than hexane (only dispersion).
What is surface tension?
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Higher with stronger intermolecular forces (the surface molecules are pulled inward more strongly). Water has high surface tension because of hydrogen bonding; hence water beads up on a non-polar surface.
What is vapour pressure?
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Lower with stronger intermolecular forces. Substances with strong intermolecular forces have fewer molecules escaping to the vapour phase at any given temperature.
What is q1?
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State the three classes of intermolecular force in order of increasing strength and give one molecule that exhibits each. [3 marks]
What is q2?
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Boiling points (in C^{\circ}\text{C}): CH4=161\text{CH}_4 = -161, NH3=33\text{NH}_3 = -33, H2O=100\text{H}_2 \text{O} = 100. Account for the trend using IMF strength. [4 marks]
What is q3?
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Compare diamond, graphite and CO2(s)\text{CO}_2(\text{s}). (a) Identify bonding type. (b) Predict relative melting points.

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